There are a lot of interesting points made here. Here is my 999 cents.
Perhaps I am off the mark, but, I see a correlation between the way a lot of divers approach gas management and the way many approach other safety guidelines/responsibilities in general. Too many divers AND dive leaders look at responsible/reasonable decisions and preparedness as being "overly conservative" or "uneccessarily anal." I have been chastised and chided on a great number of boats for having basic safety equipement, properly stowed and clipped, not an entanglement risk. I have been berated for my choice to use the rule of thirds for gas management and for choosing not to dive when the plan presented exceeded my training, experience, equipment, or comfort level. I am not dissuaded by this but many a companion has been influenced by the hazing they have experienced and witnessed.
Items as simple as a snorkel, inflatable surface marker, safety reel, cutting tool, audible signal, and/or a light have brought laughter and unending chastising such as "bringing the kitchen sink" and "diving like a dinosaur" among many other colorful comments. I have even had dive leaders and Captains single me out as a "bad" example to other divers and overly equipped. Dare I even mention that a Captain once forbid me from taking and using a pony bottle on a dive planned to 120ft. in a 2-3 knot current. I chose not to go on the boat. They should see me when I am wreck diving or doing deep dives in North Caroline
As well, I am constistently astounded at the number of divers and dive guides that continue to rely on the dive going perfectly, relying on their familiarity with a site and their (over) confidence in their ability to address any problems for the entire group (even when they are not properly equipped nor mindful of their charges). In addition, I often observe dive leaders continue the dive until the first diver reaches 1000 psi (or frequently less) before turning the dive. This is even, frequently, the briefed procedure. Often this results in divers needing to share air to complete their safety stops and the dive leader often chastises the divers for "using their air too quickly" on the return to the exit point, not having any awareness that their plan and execution of the dive likely contributed to the result.
I have been in groups where the dive leader directs their charges to enter a cavern, cave, or wreck, for which none of the other divers have had training or are equipped, and sometimes when they had less than half their original gas remaining upon entering the overhead environment. Being unfamiliar with the site, fearing losing the dive leader, and having the guide signal adamantly and aggressively that they must enter the overhead environment, even divers with good sense often acquiesce.
Consistently, I witness dive leaders, including instructors in the midst of training, "role modeling" by entering dives as the dive leader with a used tank less than half full and making the turn in the dive with less than 1/4 of the air with which they began the dive. Frequently dive leaders signal divers to continue on with the group in a direction away from the exit of the dive even when their guided divers have indicated that not only have they reached the 1000 psi that was briefed as the turn pressure but may have 600-800 psi or less.
Who hasn't seen a dive leader ignore their own or one of their divers' malfunctioning regulators or BCD's and proceed with the dive with the faulty equipment. Who hasn't seen a diver, and dare I even say, a dive leader put another diver
who is low on gas on their alternate and continue with the dive plan rather than safely ascending and ending the dive when the conditions and the site would appropriately allow the immediate ascent.
I personally don't think that teaching OOA
emergency skills is what is telling divers it is ok to run OOA.
Actions speak louder than words and I think the example that has become the norm in many, not all, diving environments is what is "telling" divers it is ok to run out of air. Better yet, I think what divers hear, see, and experience "shows" them that decisions and actions like those above which increase their risks of and likelyhood of experienceing an OOA emergency are not only acceptible but common practice. These "examples" demonstrate that these are the norms and the prepared, well equipped diver adhering to a safer, responsible, and conservative plan is the "odd man out." Just check out the online posts. Operators that adhere to safer more conservative guidelines and practices are consistently flamed for restricting divers freedoms and personal choices.
I must be an old fogy but I was taught and understood the meaning of
emergency skills and I was taught contingency planning. I started diving in the North East and am very appreciative of the training and mentoring that I received from excellent role models, both professional and recreational. This is not to say I never saw bad examples there. However, since then I have taught and been diving in more than six states and more than six countries. Unfortunately, as noted above my experiences over the last 16 years or so, after leaving the North East, have demonstrated to me that there are far more risk takers and makers than there are risk managers.
Can't remember all the details, but, one of the main dive mags recently featured an editorial about "Risk Seekers." The interesting part is most divers have a little risk seeking in them but some like to recognize the risks and reasonably manage them. Others seem to want to fly in the face of risk, carelessly tempting fate, despite the consequences to themselves or others. I don't see this behavior that seems to be an increasing trend being exclusive to SCUBA diving.
